Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

At Paris Film Awards, Nigeria’s ‘Tears For Enebi’ Bags Gold Award Elegbede Abiodun The film took over 12 years to bring to fruition, telling the deeply personal story of Enebi Anan. A powerful Nigerian short film, “Tears for Enebi,” addressing sexual violence, has captured global attention, securing five international awards and selection at nearly 20 film festivals worldwide since its debut. The 16-minute production exploring the harrowing experience of a beauty queen and poet who survived sexual assault recently added two more accolades to its growing collection. The Paris Film Awards honoured the film with a Gold Award for…

inDrive takes second  most downloaded ride-hailing app globally Elegbede Abiodun inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform active in 48 countries, has been ranked the world’s second-most-downloaded ride-hailing app for the fourth consecutive year, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. The report also showed that inDrive rose to fourth place globally in travel app downloads, up from fifth in 2023, reflecting growing user engagement as the company expands its services and transitions towards a super app model. Since its launch, the inDrive app, known for its peer-to-peer pricing model allowing drivers and riders to agree on fares,…

Banking hub in SSA: Nigeria rated second-largest investment Elegbede Abiodun File: Lagos, Nigeria Nigeria stands as one of the primary engines for financial services in the region, trailing only South Africa in total fee generation. In 2025, Nigeria maintained its status as a cornerstone of the West African financial landscape, ranking as the second-largest investment banking market in Sub-Saharan Africa. This was indicated in the Sub-Saharan Africa Investment Banking Review Full Year 2025 published by LSEG Data & Analytics, which showed that while Nigeria saw its overall fee revenue rise, the year was defined by a stark divergence between a…

BUA Foods announces Rabiu head of global procurement File: BUA Foods Plc’s Chief Officer, Global Procurement and Strategic Operations, Mr Khalifa Rabiu. BUA Foods Plc, a leading Nigerian food manufacturer, has appointed Isyaku Abdulsamad “Khalifa” Rabiu as Chief Officer, Global Procurement and Strategic Operations, effective 29 January 2026. Khalifa will assume responsibility for the company’s global procurement functions and strategic operational initiatives, which are aimed at improving efficiency, cost optimisation, supply chain resilience, and sustainable growth, the food giant said in a statement on Tuesday. He previously served as Director for Special Operations at BUA Group, where he led major…

CBN allows BDCs’ participation in foreign exchange market Elegbede Abiodun • CBN also approved that weekly FX purchases by each BDC be capped at 150,000 dollars. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approved the participation of licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), a circular signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department of the apex bank, Dr Musa Nakorji indicated. According to the circular, the approval is part of efforts to improve foreign exchange liquidity in the retail segment of the market. The circular also indicated that the CBN had also approved…

Oyebanji’s Wife Offers Free JAMB e-PIN Scheme For 3,400 Ekiti Students Elegbede Abiodun * Giving support to Ekiti indigenes. The Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has charged 3,400 beneficiaries of the State’s free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) e-PIN distribution to maximise the opportunity by being diligent and striving for excellence in their examinations. Dr. Oyebanji gave the charge in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday at the flag-off of the 2026 edition of the initiative, reaffirming the state government’s unwavering commitment to human capital development through education. She noted that the support provided by the government comes…

Manny Ita  – The West African arts community is in mourning following the death of legendary Ghanaian highlife musician and composer Ebo Taylor, who passed away at the age of 90. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in African music, Taylor’s death marks the end of an era that shaped the evolution of highlife and Afrobeat across the continent and beyond. Family sources confirmed that the veteran musician died peacefully, though details surrounding the circumstances of his passing were not immediately disclosed. Tributes have since poured in from musicians, cultural institutions and political leaders across Ghana, Nigeria…

Manny Ita  – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the urgent preservation and restoration of key Egba heritage sites as preparations intensify for the 2026 Lisabi Festival scheduled to hold next month in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Obasanjo made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting with traditional rulers, historians and cultural custodians, where he stressed that historic landmarks such as the iconic Iwe Irohin house must be protected from neglect and structural decay. He warned that allowing such monuments to deteriorate would amount to erasing vital chapters of Yoruba and Nigerian history. “Iwe Irohin is not just a building; it…

Manny Ita  – Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has weighed in on the growing debate comparing Afrobeats superstar Wizkid to the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing the comparisons as “unfair to both” artists and urging fans to appreciate their distinct eras and contributions. The award-winning singer made the remarks during a recent interview, where he addressed persistent arguments on social media placing Wizkid alongside Fela in terms of influence and legacy. According to 2Baba, while both figures are monumental in their own rights, drawing direct parallels overlooks the unique contexts that shaped their music and…

Manny Ita  – Afrobeats star Tems has made history after officially becoming the first African female artist to record seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100, a milestone that further underlines her growing influence on the global music scene. The latest achievement follows her continued presence on the chart through a mix of lead and collaborative records, reflecting a steady crossover appeal beyond the African market. Industry analysts note that Tems’ consistency on the Hot 100 places her in a rare category among African artists, male or female, to achieve sustained chart recognition in the United States. Reacting to the…